NFL: Favre to start for Vikings

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Brett Favre will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings despite two fractures in his left foot, extending his record consecutive starts streak to 292 games.

Favre injured his ankle and heel in last week’s loss at Green Bay. But after a week of treatment and even some practice time Friday, he is in the starting lineup against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Favre has both a stress fracture and an avulsion fracture in the foot. The avulsion fracture in the heel bone is where a fragment has been torn away by a tendon or ligament.

During pregame warmups, Favre showed only a slight limp as he threw an assortment of short and deep passes. The coaching staff did not appear to be watching Favre more closely than in a normal warmup. At one point, coach Brad Childress stood with team owner Ziggy Wilf about 10 yards from Favre, chatting while casually observing their 41-year-old quarterback’s throws.

Intrigue surrounded Favre all week, particularly after Childress said he would consider starting Tarvaris Jackson if Favre was hobbled. Favre also missed practice while wearing a walking boot on the foot.

But the resilient Favre, who holds virtually every NFL passing record, said Thursday people should not be surprised if he started.

The Vikings (2-4) can’t afford to fall further behind in the NFC North, and Favre has taken every snap at quarterback this season. Of course, he wasn’t fighting a balky foot before last weekend; he has been bothered by right elbow tendinitis, however.